The Sunday herald., 1887-01-02
LITERARY NOTES,

The Americanism OF The CeIituI'pis exhibited in
the makeup of the January number. Except a
short communication it IS wholly written by Ameri-
cans. Its subjects are for the most part American
and chiefly those of close and present interest to our
people, such as Lincoln and the life of the West In
the last generation; the great events Of the Civil
War; our material standing in comparison with
other nations; the Labor question: the Prohibition
movement the need Of an International Copyright.
etc., etc. Where the subjects are not American, as
in the papers on the French scuptors and the French
actor, Coquen, they are closely related TO our art
life by the excellence of the artists considered and
the writers are well-known American critics. Read
Of the Life of Lincoln, by Ncolay and Hay, will
be grateful for the liberal portions OF that work
which are presented to them tnom month to month.
The current part relates to Lincoln In Springfield:
ihe iTst clash Win Douglas; me Log cabin . ana
!ations with the Speeds, of Kentucky; the Shields
duel; the campaign OF lSi4,and Lincolns devotion to
Clay. Among the characteristics OF the young
politician 1t is recorded in his words that he was
opposed TO removals TO make places for friends"
me paper hasa number 2f interesting ~ pictures Por
est here In Washington, where the venerable hlsto-
rian resides, entitled "tieorge Bancroft-in Society,
In Politics, In Letters,"s contributed by Professor
W. NJ. Sloane, editor Of "The Princeton Review"
formerly Mr. Bancrofts private secretary at Berlin.
This paper is the first authoritative biography yet
written of a man OF the most Interesting character
and career, and gives the only authentic account In
print OF Mr.. Bancrofrs interviews with Goethe and
~
drawn by Mr.. Nv. Alexander, Is the frontispiece OF
the number. Following his paper on the Food
3tkInson Contributes co apolher on 1.-THE Restlye
Strength aud Weakness OF Nations" being the first
Of "Two Studies In the Application OF Statistics to
Meteors p in the "New Astronomy" series, Profes.
sor $. p. Langley, the astronomer, gathers up the
Among % the pictures are woodcuis Of comets and Of
meteorlc shower The second OF Mr.. W. Z. Brow
nes critical papers on "French scnlptors' deals
with Saint Marceaux, Mercie, and Falgulere whose
work Is represented by beautifully engraved wood
cuts. Mr.. Henry James, in paper of criticism and
the French actor OF Inc Comede Franchise, the i'm.
mediate occasion of the article being that actors
lately contemplated visit to America "Fencing and
| the New York Fencers," by Henry Ecsford, relates
to sport which has lately had d marked growth In
New York. Another sport OF an older American
nan eacRs weo Wa IN an
by Farny. The fiction comprises the opening chap.
tiers OF Mr. Cables new Acaiian story, "Carancro;"
"The Wimpy AdoptiOns,m by Col. H. NJ. Johnston,
humorous study OF provincial Georgia life, together
with the continuation Of Mr.. Stockton's novel, "The
Hundredth Man" The first and second named are
illustrated by Kembe with drawings which have the
pquancy OF exciting the desire TO read the text. In
addition to the above there are YET to be mentioned
the papers in the War Series, which, though occupy
ing less space than formerly, deal Complementary
with what is probably the most Interesting part OF
| the Gettysburg nght-tne Third day Gen. Hunt de.
scrlbcs the InanGuvres from the Union point of
| view, while Gen. Z. J.. Alexander, Of Long
streets coIps adds ssppleemssta pe,Sss popular
Maps and pictures relating to this attack,
and also to the cavalry battle, together with por-
traits OF Gems Pickett, Custer, Farnsworth, Sheriff.,
aud Pleasonton, make the number one OF especial
atlracllyeness TO veterans me poetry Includes
Brac," "1o Critics." by Walter Learned. aud
adjourned" by Mrs b; II. II. Goodale 10 "Topics
Tyranny That Cannot Live IN America deals with
the iyrannlca and dead-leyel features OF the Labor
Problem "The Blot on ine scutcheon" presents
| Eh long HtruQyle Inter.
| national Copyright law should be continued during
the present session OF Congress; "IiOw Prohibition
| Growsn is addressed both 10 the PrOhiblonists aud
10 their opponents. "Open Letters" are contributed
by William G. Wilkinson on Greek and Latin
sThe s1a Cultivation u Of the cans and by others OF
| "Lincoln In the south;n "Lszt and David" AM
"shall Young Men goto yassar7 II not, whynot? 2
| In "Bric.a Brac" Bill Nye Introduces the public L
| "The Coupon Letter OF Introduction"
| "a Signal Success Ia the slightly sporiiye lead
| ing title gwen 10 "Ihe Work and Travels OF Mrs
| Martha j. Coston-an Autobiography" (Philadel
| phla: j. B. Lippnc0It Company The name o
Benjamin +. Coston ID immortalized In his inven
ton, the night signals, as inseparably as the name
| OF Hanson, LatrObe, and others IN THEIRS but few
knew before the appearance OF lhls volume OF IN
| romance attached to the discovery When Lieut.
| schwatka lectured on his search for the franklii
records, he told how he mad scared the wolves AVA
from ais igloo AZ nght Dy outoh9 Ioson So s 5gnss
really the original Idea OF the Invention, for sh
| perfected 1t (when left young widow with seyera
| childIenl in order to Keep the wolf from her owl
door. Emerson somewhere says that II any persoi
could and would write out fully and truly all hls o.
her personal acs, thoughts, and feelings, It woul'
be more Interesting lhsn any novel. Mrs. Cost0I
mas come very close 10 doing this, beginning Will
her Romantic courtshlp and marriage, and endDI
with the e 4 planatiOn how Washington comes to hay
her as resident, "a very valued one. With host o
warm frendsJ al "yilla COston." II would b
upiust even II possible, TO Tete the story Ia any Du
hef own frank and graceful language. surice II q
say that her adventures were wei worth recording
| II was a triumph for American wOnanhOod that he
| wit ana beauty were potent aids In introducing he
| husbands life.saying invention to our own Navy
| where Il was invaluable during tile war, and ile
TO the nayles OF Europe, aud mol only that, but NJ
cured AZ least partial compensation for IT'S use. al
ways the hardest task Her accounts OF iOrelg
travel and sOciely nave an interest absOlutel
uulque, and II Is amusing even 10 Imagine m
scenes she suggests of lady with curling golde
harRrayely debating signals, pyrolechnlcs, and nav
cation with English admrals aud boards OF fOrelg
ofneers, moi 10 mention crowned heads Mrs. Goa
TOMS pcu " also tTenchani on occasion, AMI lhOs
who enjoy shaTp hits, even al the expense Of oil
acauanlances, vii! nnd such IN her pages. such
life az hers falls to bui few In these prosaic day
| apd stil more seldom nndB such au aulODlOgrapbe
Messrs. Charles scribners sons, Of New iorI
nave Ia press, ana Will shortly publish a novel b
Mr. A. A. Hayes, called "1he Jesuits Ring; A II,
nance OF Mount Desert" Tue story Itself Ia
modern days. but the prologue takes Tue Tead'
back 10 1918.